Mental health challenges don’t discriminate.
But the systems and infrastructures around treatment often do.
Being Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC) comes with underlying difficulties that make healing an exhausting and sometimes grueling process. Racism, language differences, lack of information, the stigma around mental illness in BIPOC communities, and other factors contribute to this problem.
And while as a BIPOC person, you are incredibly resilient, research shows that you are less likely to seek out, have access to, and receive the mental health support you need.
You deserve better.
You deserve exceptional and accessible care.
Madison Park Psychological Services acknowledges we have a long road ahead. And we continue to do our part by building a multiracial team who provides culturally and historically fluent treatment.
We offer BIPOC therapy to teens, adults, and older adults living in NYC and its surrounding areas.
If you are looking for authentic and informed support, we are here for you.
Call 212-506-5935 or contact us to book a consultation or read on to learn more about BIPOC therapy.
BIPOC therapy is counseling focused on supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color as they navigate their behavioral, emotional, and mental health challenges.
The goal of BIPOC therapy is to provide quality care that considers and honors your lived experiences and distinctive hardship as BIPOC.
A counselor offering BIPOC therapy has evidence-based training and deep knowledge of your BIPOC background in all intersections—including your culture, socio-economic history, spiritual values, identity, sexual orientation, and beyond.
Like standard talk therapy, BIPOC therapy consists of meeting with a mental health professional to examine your issues, explore patterns, and discover healthier ways to cope.
The key differentiator is your counselor understands how being BIPOC might have shaped your journey, affecting your inner and outer world.
This cultural competency removes barriers from the therapy process. You won’t have to spend time and emotional energy offering cultural context or enlightening your counselor on the nuances of race. You won’t have to defend or underplay yourself. You can simply be and let your therapist take care of you.
While our BIPOC therapists may not be where you are from or look exactly like you, they are equipped to provide a trusting, safe, and affirming environment. We will adapt treatment to your symptoms and needs, recognizing the unique adversity you may face on top of everyday stressors.
BIPOC therapy can support you in managing common mental health challenges, such as:
While Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are not a homogeneous group, BIPOC therapy can help you address difficulties experienced by BIPOC communities, including:
If you are experiencing any of the above mental health issues or obstacles to achieving true healing, BIPOC therapy can help you.
Before starting BIPOC therapy, we will do an initial consultation to get to know each other. We will discuss your concerns and hopes for treatment and explain our process.
If we believe we are a good fit, we will connect you with one of our BIPOC therapy specialists. We will also propose one or more treatment modalities according to your needs and preferences.
During your first session, your therapist will collaborate with you to establish treatment objectives and walk you through their approach. You can ask questions or jump right into what’s on your mind.
Each individual sessions are generally 45 minutes long and our couple therapy session an hour long, both scheduled in person or online. The format is an open conversation, where you can share as much as you’d like at your own pace. Your therapist will listen carefully and guide the interaction. They will also use different evidence-based techniques aligned with their methods and your case (e.g., role-playing, journaling).
As therapy progresses, you will gain insight into yourself, your habits, and practical strategies to cope with hardship. The frequency and amount of sessions can vary depending on your symptoms, modality, and treatment targets.
Change is hard. While BIPOC therapy is an investment in your well-being, some days may be difficult to endure. You may revisit hurtful memories, challenge deep-rooted beliefs, and face painful truths on your road to transformation.
Staying positive sounds easier said than done. But here are a few things you can do to ease into the process of healing:
A significant part of BIPOC therapy (and most specialties) involves empowering you with mental health resources and suggesting self-care strategies for sustained wellness—to be applied during and after treatment.
For example, a yoga class, coloring, or a mindful walk can calm you down after a draining session.
Having self-care practices in your toolbox can also help you handle triggers on your own after treatment is complete.
For instance, if you experience anxiety symptoms, you can rely on a breathwork or grounding technique to gain relief.
Whatever self-care looks like for you, do what you can to nurture yourself and ask your therapist for further support if needed.
Finding a counselor who offers BIPOC therapy can be daunting, mainly because of a shortage of diverse mental health professionals. According to the American Psychological Association, roughly 16% of the US psychology workforce is non-white.
While therapists don’t have to be BIPOC to provide culturally-versed therapy, representation in the therapy room is crucial. Getting support from someone with an ingrained grasp of your lived experiences, traditions, beliefs, and even language removes some of the emotional burden in the recovery process.
At Madison Park Psychological Services, we have a stellar team of specialists who offer in-person BIPOC therapy in NYC (and online all across NY via telehealth). This includes Asian, South Asian, Asian American, Black, and POC therapists with experience in many mental health services, conditions, and methods.
Our umbrella approach is holistic and adjusted to your unique identity. We deliver treatment in English, French, Spanish, Grecque, Farsi, Korean, and Mandarin and aim to make therapy affordable for everyone.
Call 212-506-5935 or book a consultation to see if we are a suitable match for you.
We’ll design an effective, individually tailored treatment to help you reach optimal health and well-being.
To contact us or book an appointment, please complete the form below.
